WISHFUL thinking seems to have paid off in Sheffield - for two charities at least.

More than £1,760 in coins was thrown into the pools at the Winter Gardens in the last 12 months by visitors hoping their wishes will come true.

And while it remains to be seen whether any of the visitors got lucky, the Cavendish Centre - which helps cancer sufferers and their carers - and the Prostate Cancer Charity certainly have.

The city council, which runs the popular attraction, has given the money to the two groups as they are the lord mayor's charities for the year.

In total, more than £3,400 has been thrown in the pools by some of the 1.7m visitors since December, 2002.

All has gone to charity.